SMS Element 3 of Safety Assurance

Continuous Improvement of the SMS

Continuous improvement is measured through monitoring an organization’s safety performance indicators. Progress is related to the maturity and effectiveness of an SMS. Safety assurance processes support improvements to the SMS through continual verification and follow-up actions. These objectives are achieved through the application of internal evaluations and independent audits of the SMS.

Compliance of this requirement is indicated when:

The Safety Committee has the necessary authority to make
decisions related to the improvement and effectiveness of the
SMS; and

The SMS is periodically reviewed for improvements in safety
performance.

This element is satisfied when the organization routinely monitors the SMS performance to identify potential areas of improvement and the outcomes of
this process lead to improvements to the safety management system.